Filing receptacle



Dec. 13, 1949 J. GovAN 2,491,040

FILING REGEPTACLE vFiled March 21, 1945 Patented Dec. 13,1949 I UNITED STATES PATENT o Application March 21, 1945 serie; Nie. 583,911 In Canada March 7, 1945 Claims.

1 This invention relates to means for ling sheet material and more particularly to filing cabinets for drawings, maps and like sheet material.r

An object of the invention is to provide a ling cabinet having a relatively great capacity for receiving loose sheets of material, such as drawand wherein any individual sheet may be conveniently and rapidly placed in a desired location in the cabinet and be quickly accessible for removal from. such location as desired. Another object is to provide such a cabinet wherein sheet vmaterial may be placed in or removed from the cabinet with substantially little possibility of injury to the individual sheets. Another object is to provide a cabinet for ling drawings and the like which is dust, water and fire resistant.

The invention contemplates the provision of ling means comprising a receptacle, a plurality v of article receiving trays in the receptacle, the trays having their rearward ends pivoted in the receptacle, and means for simultaneously raising the forward endsl of the trays out of the receptacle.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a cabinet having an outer casing, a plurality of drawers therein, a cover for each of said drawers, a plurality of le or sheet receiving trays in the drawer, and means connected to the cover adapted to raise the forward portions of the trays on opening movement of the cover.

Other objects, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent as this descripytion proceeds with particular reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a filing cabinet in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the opened cabinet with one drawer partly in section.

In the drawing, I is the outer wall of the cabinet, which is provided with doors 2. The Walls may be of flreproof construction if desired. A plurality of drawers 3 are mounted within the cabinet on any suitable slide and suspension means 4. Each drawer is of relatively shallow construction and is preferably fully enclosed by means of a top wall portion 5 and a cover 6 hinged thereto, the cover extending over the major portion of the drawer.

Within each drawer are a plurality of trays 1, each of which may comprise simply a metal sheet. Alternatively, each tray may comprise a plurality of sheet metal strips. The rearward end of each tray is pivotally carried on a metal rod 2 8. mounted in brackets 9 on either side wall of the drawer., jAs shown in Figure 1, each "succeeding rod c below ,the tcp rod is preferably mounted slightly to the rear of the adjacent upper rod.v The forward end ofveach tray is slidably snpi ported on a 'metal Tod, "IU, the ends of which are mounted in a pair of bars Il at the sides of the drawer. One end of each bar Il 'is pivotally mounted in 'a bracket I2' fixed tothe bottom of the drawer adjacent to theY forward portion thereof. The othe'r'jent of each bar `I I is pivoted to one end of one ofapalr of links i3, the other end of which is pivotally secured at i4 to thel forward'portion 'of 'the cover.

Referring to Figure 1l the lowermst drawer, shown in section, llrustrates the 'position of the trays 1 therein when the cover i's in closed position. In this position'the trays lare substantially flat and. supported in spaced relation to each other. The 'next drawer, also shown "in section,

illustrates the open position of the drawer andcover. It will be observed that the opening move ment of the 'cover causes the plvoted links I3 and bars [l t0 forward portions f th trays out of the drawer with their ends in fully exposed position. Thus lng of sheet materialy on each of the be readily'ahd quickly accomplished While such material on the trays is, conveniently accessible, as illustrated at l5 in Figure 1.

It is proposed to employ two or more portfolios I6 on each tray, in which the sheet material, such as drawings, may be led. Thus, an economical and eicient filing system, requiring little effort and time on the part of the user, is provided.

To facilitate filing and removal of sheets from the portfolios, a holding device may be provided as illustrated. Such a device may comprise a substantially U-shaped bar l1 having its ends pivotally mounted in brackets i8 mounted on the cover and being adapted to rest on the top of the upper portfolio. As shown in Figure l, the upper portion i9 fof a portfolio (or of a number of sheets of material) may be folded back and retained in such position by the bar, in order to free both hands of an operator for convenient examination, removal or replacement of any individual drawing or document.

The hinges 20 of the cover 6 may be of the adjustable spring type, reversed in action, so that when the cover is lowered, the weight of the portfolios and their contents, plus trays, on the bars 8 is counter-balanced to prevent the cover from dropping too quickly and also to make the While the invention has been described, by,

Way of example, in association with a plural drawer cabinet, it will be apparent that it may be applied to a single receptacle. A Moreoven While the tray positioning means has been conveniently associated with a cover for the drawer, it will be apparent that the cover may, if desired, be omitted, and a hinged strip or strips substituted therefor.

I claim:

1. A ling receptacle having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a plurality of article receiving trays therein, the rearward ends of said trays being pivotally mounted in. the receptacle and linkage means pivotally connected to the cover for raising the forward portions of the trays out of the receptacle on opening movement of the cover, said linkage means comprising a pair of bars each pivotally connected at one end to the forward portion of the receptacle, and a pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to the forward portion of the cover, the other end of each link being pivotally connected to the other end of one of said bars.

2. A filing receptacle having a plurality of article receiving trays therein, the rearward ends of said trays being pivotally mounted in the receptacle, and means for simultaneously tilting the forward ends of the tray's upwardly out of the receptacle comprising a pair of bars each having one end pivotally connected to the lower forward portion of the receptacle, a plurality of spaced rods having their ends mounted in said bars and each having sliding engagement with the lower surface of one of the trays, a pair of links each having one end pivotallyjconnected to the other end of one of said bars, and az member having one end pivotally mounted on said receptacle and a pivotal connection adjacent its free end with each of the other ends of said links.

3. A ling receptacle having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a plurality of article receiving trays therein, linkage means pivotally connected to the cover for raising the forward portions of the trays out of the receptacle on opening movement of the cover, and article holding means comprising a bar pivotally mounted on the cover and adapted to rest on articles supported on the upper one of said trays.

y 4. A filing receptacle having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a plurality of independent varticle-receiving trays therein and having their rearward portions pivotally secured to the receptacle, a plurality of spaced rods each having sliding engagement with the lower surfaces of one of the trays, a link pivoted to the receptacle and supporting said rods, said link being connected to said cover and swingable about the pivot on opening movement of the cover.

5. A ling receptacle having a cover hingedly connected thereto, a plurality of independent article receiving trays therein and having their rearward portions pivotally secured to the receptacle, a plurality of spaced rods each having sliding engagement with the lower surface of one of the trays, a link pivoted to the receptacle and supporting said rods, and a second link pivoted to the cover and to the first link, said second link being upwardly movable with the cover to raise said rods and trays.

JAMES GOVAN.

REFREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany 1923;. 

